“a landscape of art & culture ”

Balboa Park began as 1400 acres of land set aside in 1868 by San Diego civic leaders. Known then as “City Park”, the scrub-filled mesa that overlooked present day Downtown San Diego sat without formal landscaping or development for more than 20 years.(Today the Park's total land parcel has been reduced to 1,200 acres.)

The first steps in Park beautification were made in 1892, largely due to the contributions of Kate Sessions. Sessions offered to plant 100 trees a year within the Park as well as donate trees and shrubs around San Diego in exchange for 32 acres of land within the Park boundaries to be used for her commercial nursery. Several popular species, including the birds of paradise, queen palm and poinsettia were introduced into the Park’s horticulture because of Sessions’ early efforts. In fact, many of her original trees are alive and visible today. It is no wonder that Kate Sessions earned the title “The Mother of Balboa Park” at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.

Just after the turn of the century, a master plan for Park improvements and beautification was formally introduced. Supported by a City tax levied in 1905, the process began in 1903 and continued through 1910. Water systems were installed, planting continued, roads were built, and the Park began to take on much of the familiar look of today.

San Diego was set to play host to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and “City Park” was a less-than memorable or distinctive name for such an internationally prestigious event. In 1910, Park Commissioners announced plans to re-name City Park and the public was eager to throw potential names into the hat, including: San Diego Park, Silver Gate Park, Horton Park and Miramar Park. After months of discussion and great public interest, the Park Commissioners decided on the name Balboa Park, chosen in honor of Spanish-born Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean while on exploration in Panama.

Balboa park is a stunning Spanish inspired park full of gardens and museums that is beautiful and soul renewing. It can get pricey if you pay to enter each of the museums, but there are plenty of free exhibits and attractions. The conservatory is insanely cool! A favorite place of ours to visit and a highlight of San Diego!

Most people talk about the zoo, but I think the botanical garden is fantastic, and such an underrated place to visit in Balboa Park. Loads of food trucks and yummy restaurants. Fantastic urban playground to spend the day. Loads of Spanish architecture. My brother was really into the model railroad museum. Parking can be a pain, because it is such a popular place to visit. I'd recommend planning at least a couple days, cause there's just so much to see and do.

Before leaving San Diego, we were told it is a shame not to visit Balboa Park.
We did visit it but didn't expect it to be so massive!

This park includes everything!! We weren't able to see all of it but we managed to see the zoo which is fantastic, enter 2 of the 15 museums (the Mingei International and the Museum of Man) and did a roundabout at the botanical gardens!

Unfortunately we had to leave and continue our trip north..but next year we are definitely going back to see the rest of this fantastic Park.

I would suggest to everyone to go and spend some valuable time there with the family and friends!